in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious…
when the world is puddle-wonderful…
e.e. cummings
The abundant rain this season has been welcome to our drought-thirsty state. But for parents of preschoolers, wet weather can create difficulties: how in the world are we supposed to keep our children entertained indoors for days on end? We come up with lists of “rainy-day activities,” bring out stashed toys and books and videos, and grit our teeth until it’s perfect outside again.
As parents, we protect our children instinctively from hunger, injury, and exposure; that’s basically our job description. But guess what? A bit of rain is just fine! Rain itself can’t make you sick. It can certainly make you wet and muddy. While adults might be uncomfortable getting messy, for children playing in the rain is pure joy. Everything is different and magical when it rains, and getting dirty is just part of the fun. Outdoor play, especially in the rain, helps children build all kinds of useful skills:
PHYSICAL
Agility
Balance
Coordination
Sharper perceptions in all five senses
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Confidence
Resilience
Ability to assess risks
Creativity
Endurance
At Albany Preschool, we use the rain to our advantage. We run, sing, dig, jump, and really PLAY in the rain. We love digging trenches, making mud pies and structures in the rain, and splashing around in all that awesome water. All that’s needed is boots, enthusiasm and a cozy change of clothes afterward. Now that’s one truly excellent rainy-day activity.
Splash-tastic!